The Stolen Lands
Game Master Akinra

Oleg nods, handing over the potion in exchange for the gold. "For the javelins and spears... 70 arrows do you?"

"Thank you Oleg. We will be sure to come back and check up on you, make sure the bandits don't retaliate"

"Hmm, the best fake bandit. I can be imposing if I wish but I don't look like much of a wildman. Perhaps Roga?"

She draws my attention, to things she sees, sometimes. Jutmon tells Inuki. Our minds are linked, but she is just a bird, so there is no high level of communication. She is definatly useful, but not to the level you were hoping for, I think.

Then the discussion turns to posing as bandits.

What does a bandit really look like? Jutmon grins impishly. Any one of us could be a bandit. The question is... Which of us is skilled at acting, or at tricking folk?

Jutmon shakes his head. I know it's not me.

"Sounds fair Oleg. Thank you. As for being a bandit, I might look like one but I'm not much of an actor. Also, do you really think that another of the Stag Lord's Lieutenant's would be fooled just because I'm wearing one of their amulets? They probably at least know who each other are."

Inuki puts on the amulet. "I can try to fit in with them if the opportunity arises. The best ruses require some knowledge, though. What do we know of how these bandits are organized?"

"Not much. Apparently not well, since they all fled as soon as their leader fell."

"Posing as a bandit may only gather us some limited information about how they operate when we can gain near as much information by finding them and watching them for a bit then capturing one of their numbers on a patrol or sentry mission, and it is far less dangerous for one of our numbers."

Sergei finds a place to lean against a wall if the discussion is going to be drawn out. He takes his pistol and a cloth to start wiping it down to avoid rust being allowed to form on it from the oil and water's on his fingers.

"I do not believe we can split up, most of us aren't skilled enough trackers to hunt them down"

"Agreed, better to stick together." Southeast?

Jutmon gives Oleg 5gp from his share of the loot, so far. He also hands the innkeeper the parchment on which the list of components had been written. See what you can get, eh?

25 gp in material to scribe 1st level spells. So enough in advance for two.

The wizard then hurries to catch up to Roga and the rest as they track the bandits.

Why would they split up? These bandits had not seemed overly bright so far, but Jutmon still has a feeling, that something is amiss.

"Might as well keep heading straight south. If we run out of trail we can always backtrack. Not fun, but none of this is really." Roga says with a small chuckle.

Are you still tracking, or exploring?

Tracking.

After another five hours, the sun is starting to dip behind the mountains far to the west. You believe you have made good progress, and are definitely on the trail of the bandits.

Through the course of the day, Roga has been too distracted to forage for much food due to his focus on following the tracks. Luckily Jutmon, while practicing cantrips, seems to have accidentally slain a small deer. There is certainly enough to feed all of you for the day.

As you settle down, a bone rattling roar erupts from the woods not one hundred yards distant.

A large grizzly bear seems rather perturbed at your presence.

Wow, that looks huge in the editor window, for just a couple lines... Meh.

Nareth stands and unwinds his chain "I do not plan to kill an animal for no reason, I would rather scare it off than kill it"

"How do you propose to do that?" Roga asks, backing away slowly.

Handle Animal roll please. What are our chances of pacifying this thing. Perhaps throwing it some deer to munch on and backing away slowly?

Please let me know who is mounted, and who is dismounted following Jutmon's slaying of the deer.

Still Mounted on Midnight, lance in hand.

"He aint backing down. Looks like bear stew tonight. Roga says, after attempting to dissuade the ursine.

Was that my round one action, or pre-combat?

The bear is posturing. You will each get an action, however; at the end of this pre-combat round: "After the Intimidate expires, the target treats you as unfriendly . . . If you fail this check by 5 or more, the target attempts to deceive you or otherwise hinder your activities."

Source.

Hostile -> Unfriendly -> Indifferent -> Friendly -> Helpful

MAP

Please see Discussion Thread.

Sergei was not always comfortable in the saddle so when the opportunity presented itself to be dismounted the law-man had taken it. He had tied the horse up on a tree while he waited for the deer to be dressed but the appearance of the bear had become the immediate issue. He pulled his pistol free and began the process of loading it as the others tried to scare the bear off...

Loading during the pre-combat or will load during the first round.

Okay, Pre-combat move to IJ/89.

Nareth follow behind Roga as quickly as he can

Inuki dismounts and begins a strange chant and dance attempting to distract the bear.

Bardic performance: Fascinate

As Inuki starts his performance, the bear seems to mellow. Taking a seat the bear stops his posturing, and blankly stares at the strange kitsune, completely fascinated.

Roga, Inuki's Fascinate attempt will be roughly contemporaneous with your handle animal. If you choose to move closer to the bear after the animal is fascinated, it may break the effect.

Jutmon bides his time, he does not want to interfere with Inuki's charm magic.
He does sort of expect Roga to charge on the beast; when, or if, he does Jutmon will follow up with magic missile.

Round 0

As you attempt to field dress a lovely dinner of fresh venison, the local bear who owns this area makes his presence known. Although Roga's attempt to shoo the bear off and Nareth's attempt to scare the bear away are less than fruitful, Inuiki's bizarrely captivating and lulling voice seems to do the trick. The bear is sitting calmly staring at and listening to the bard.

Initiative Order:
Sergei
Jutmon
Roga
Inuki
Nareth
-----------
Grizzly Bear

Well since if Inuki stops performing it will fade anyway, I'm gonna stick with my action. Moving to IJ/89 and readying a charge.

Sergei lowers his voice, "So what is the plan. I doubt that Inuki can keep him captivated all day?"

Hold Action.

"Use this chance to move into a good position and then shoot it, I'll use that as my mark to charge it." Roga suggests.

"I can create a bank of fog around it. Perhaps it will be confused enough for us to simply leave"

"Then do so. I'd also prefer to leave the beast in peace."

Well I can still conceal us all, then the bear might be confused

indeed

Nareth whispers "I can create a bank of fog that covers us, perhaps it will confuse him long enough for us to get away"

If there are some deer parts handy I will toss them in front of the bear while continuing my bardic performance.

Mmm. I have some smokesticks.

"Well, get on with it friends. Summon your mists and burn your smokes. Lets get outta here." Roga says.

I chose the nexus that seemed most likely to accomplish your goal of obscuring the majority of the party, without terminating the Fascinate effect of Inuki. Feel free to request a retcon if I positioned anything incorrectly.

Jutmon waits with the horse, nervously hoping that Inuki hurries it up.

As they leave, he plans on lighting and dropping a smokestick on the far side of Nareth's fog. The smoke will thicken the fog cloud, and the fumes should disrupt the bear's, no doubt, keen sense of smell. That, and the pungent deer guts they are leaving behind, should distract the bear. Or, so Jutmon tells himself. And worries about the rather loud sound, that horses hooves inevitably make.

Roga will wait for the others to leave first, and then cover their retreat from the rear in case the bear changes its mind.

Waiting patiently or the bear to finish playing [ooc]holding action until after the bear Jutmon helps Inuki back into the saddle, then rides around through the edge of the fog, meeting the rest of the group on the far side. Together, you all flee.

Continue in the direction the tracks were going, seeking to pick up the trail again once a few hundred meters from the bear. I'll deay to be the last PC to act before the bear.

I take my time getting out of the fog, then follow our master tracker

As you all exit the small glade and the adrenaline begins to subside, you realize that you are hungry and tired. Lucky for you, the now happy and content bear was not able to take your lovely deer, so you have plenty to eat for the night. Unfortunately, exhaustion is beginning to take it's toll. A quick scan of the area reveals several potential camping locations, should you choose to end your day. To the east approximately a quarter mile, you can spot another small glade. Directly to the south lies a cave in the harrow valley in which you are currently riding. and of course, any number of open spaces are available should you choose to camp on the plains.

"Lets check out that cave for a campsite. If it's not too deep, and unoccupied it would make a good place to rest."

Inuki is wondering if he can rub the bear's belly, when Jutmon takes his hand to pull him up into the saddle. "I thought we were really starting to bond there," he muses as they ride away.

I agree with checking out the cave, as long as we make sure it is not the bear's home.

Nareth has a cautious eye at the cave "The only thing about a campsite with one entrance is that there is only one exit. I will be up till at least midnight, how do we plan on doing the night watch?"